Indoor vs Outdoor Antenna?

[KeithP]

Well, Time Warner finally cut me off so I purchased an indoor antenna for my Kuro.

I live in a 3rd floor apt in Huntington Beach. The reception from the indoor antenna isn't great. I have it near my sliding glass door/porch but my apartment faces west towards to ocean so even if I open the door and place the antenna outside the reception doesn't improve.

I was wondering if I mounted an actual outdoor antenna on my balcony if it would make much of a difference? I am thinking because it would be facing out towards the ocean, even the outdoor antenna won't prove very useful. I really need something on top of the building, not on the side, but unfortunately that is not possible.

Any thoughts?

-KeithP

 

[Modelworks]

Indoor antennas usually don't work good in apartments unless you are close to the transmitter.
Here is a site that can give you some idea where the stations towers are and what the recommended antenna is.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

 

[KeithP]

I had been to that site before but somehow had missed the compass direction indicator which I just now noticed. It would a appear that a small multidirectional antenna (yellow) should work for my needs.

Thanks,
KeithP

 

[Shadowknight]

Different indoor antennas perform differently. Try the coathanger antenna tutorial on Youtube; it's an antenna you can make yourself that works VERY well.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: KeithP
I had been to that site before but somehow had missed the compass direction indicator which I just now noticed. It would a appear that a small multidirectional antenna (yellow) should work for my needs.

Thanks,
KeithP

I would recommend that you go one size up from what they advise, unless you are sure you have a clear line of site to the transmitters in your area. Having an antenna inside cuts the reception. It can be as high as 50% in some cases. If you go with your outdoor antenna idea though, you should be good.

 

[KeithP]

Thanks for the input everybody!

-KeithP